The Tissaphernes Archaeological Research Group, in collaboration with the Center for the Great Islamic Encyclopedia, the Society of Iranian Archaeology, and the Iranian Studies Association, is hosting the National Conference on the Iranian World: Seleucid and Parthian Eras. This event, under the academic direction of Dr. Shahin Aryamanesh and Dr. Houshang Rostami, will take place on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM at the Center for the Great Islamic Encyclopedia, located in Niavaran, Tehran. The conference will commence with speeches by distinguished Iranian scholars and cultural leaders, including:

• Seyed Mohammad Kazem Bojnourdi, President of the Center for the Great Islamic Encyclopedia
• Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Zarei, President of the Research Institute for Cultural Heritage and Tourism
• Dr. Shahin Aryamanesh, Head of the Tissaphernes Archaeological Research Group
• Dr. Mahmoud Jafari Dehghi, President of the Iranian Studies Association
• Dr. Kourosh Mohammadkhani, President of the Society of Iranian Archaeology
• Dr. Hekmatollah Malasalehi, Professor of Iranian Archaeology

The conference will explore diverse aspects of religion, art and architecture, cultural and social history, new archaeological discoveries, economics, livelihoods, and trade. Special emphasis will be placed on archaeological and historical studies of the Seleucid and Parthian periods within the geographical and cultural contexts of the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Makran Sea. Key topics to be addressed include:

• The identity and analysis of the bronze statue from Shami
• Newly discovered Parthian rock reliefs, with a focus on two examples in the Kurdistan region
• The reclining figure in Parthian art
• The Seleucid connection to the Persian Gulf and its economic and political significance
• The role of coinage in the Seleucid economic system and its features
• Genealogy and origins of the first Parthian kings
• Wine-making structures associated with the Seleucids in the Karaftu Cave
• Ritual landscapes of Sarpol-e Zahab during the Seleucid and Parthian periods

These topics offer a comprehensive insight into the cultural, economic, and artistic transformations of these two historical eras. The conference provides a valuable opportunity for researchers and enthusiasts in Iranian history and archaeology to engage with the latest findings and studies on the Seleucid and Parthian periods and to exchange ideas. The full conference program is available at the following link: